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Review: Falcon by Tim Jessell

Told in lush illustrations and verse, this picture book follows the daydreams of a young boy. A boy in a summer field dreams of being a falcon. He would fly high in the mountains, along the coast, and roost in the cliffs where he could hear the crashing waves. He would journey to the city, where he could perch far above the noise and bustle and watch the city from above. Then he would dive down, faster and faster, towards the sidewalks and the people. At the very last moment, he would spread his wings and fly above their heads. The fun he could have, if only he were a falcon.

Told in verse that is spare and lovely, this poetry will work well for a young audience. The imagery in the poem is directed at that audience. For example, towards the beginning of the book, this symbolism is used:

With the sound

of tearing paper,

my wings would

slice through

the air.

Immediately, children will hear the sound and realize just how fast that falcon is flying. It is beautifully, clearly written to great effect.

Combined with this poetry are incredible illustrations that are deep colored and striking. They range from close-ups of the falcon to long-distance images of the coastline at night. They are immensely beautiful and captivating as they capture this imaginary life of a falcon.

A radiant picture book about imagination and flight, this book will have young readers dreaming their own daydreams of gliding high above the earth. Appropriate for ages 4-6.